Parachute apparatus



Feb. 27 1940. L. 1.. IRVIN 2,192,083

PARACHUTE APPARATUS Filed May 14, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. L25111! L. Irvin.

Feb. 27, 1940. 1.. L. IRVIN PARACHUTE APPARATUS Filed May 14, 1954 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 'Le'sha L. Irvin.

ATTORNE Feb. 27, 194-0. 7 my: 2,192,083

PARACHUTE APPARATUS .Filed May 14, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I INVENTOR. 43Leslie L. Irvin ATTORNE Feb. 27, 1940. L. lRVlN PARACHUTE APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 14, 1954 INVENTOR.

- ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 27,

PARACHUTE APPARATUS I Leslie L. Irvin, Letchworth, Herts, England, as-

signor to Irving Air Chute. Company, Inc., Buffalo, N. Y., a corporationApplication May 14, 1934, Serial No. 725,646

' In Great Britain June 28, 1933 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in parachute equipment and hasparticular reference to a parachute-chair wherein a passenger A furtherobject of the invention is the provi:

sion of an improved parachute chair for aircraft constituting animprovement upon a parachute chair shown in U. S. Patent #1,899,668 inthat 20 the parachute pack and harness are more compactly, comfortablyand conveniently arranged on the chair and in-condition for instantemergency attachment.

A further object of the invention is the provi- 25 sion of an improvedparachute chair having improved means associated therewith forreleasably maintaining certain parts of the parachute harness inaninconspicuous and easily accessible condition, so that the passengeror aviator may 30 readily slip into the same and fasten the harness uponhis or her person.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improvedparachute harness which consists of a main supporting sling in which the35 parachutist sits, much as in a swing, during a parachute descent,such as set forth in U. S. Patent #1560366. However, the present harnessconstitutes an improvement over the harness of said patent in that aharness attaching 40 loop of an adjustable nature is secured to the seatportion of the main sling so as to obviate the necessity of passing legstraps between the legs; the said loop consisting of strap portionspassing around the outer sides of the legs or about the hips of thewearer and having means to adjustably tighten the same in harnesssecuring relation upon the legs, instantly and without liability ofloosening, so that the seat portion of the the seat of the wearer.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improvedparachute harness having means for automatically tightening the harness55 upon the wearer at the time that the load is sling is maintained inproper position beneath taken by the deployed parachute canopy during aparachute descent.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improvedparachute chair including a compact and efficient association of pack,padding, harness and retaining means therefor, so that the chairnormally simulates an ordinary aircraft chair, but in such manner thatan aviator or passenger may with facility instantly apply the harnessupon himself or herself and in such condition that a safe parachutedescent may be made.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description. 1

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved parachute chair with thepack and harness in their normal inconspicuous association with thechair details.

Figures 2 and 3 show successive steps in the application of the harnessupon a wearer.

Figure 4 shows a woman in standing position (after arising from thechair) with the harness, padding, and parachute pack, attached to herbody.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a preferred form ofparachute harness associated with the parachute equipment of the presentinvention.

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken through an adapterconnection of a back strap with a lift web, showing the improvedassociation thereof, so as to insure automatic tightening of the harnessupon. the wearer as the load is taken by the parachute during aparachute descent, substantially on the line 8-6 0 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an improved connectorfor adjusting the lap strap of the harness to the stature of the wearer.

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view showing the adapter of Figure 7 andthe association of straps therewith.

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view taken through details of the harnessat the seat thereof, substantially on the line 99 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the chairseat, showing side pocketing means for maintaining parts of the harnessin inconspicuous and concealed posi- 5 tion, the pocket being partiallyopen to expose the manner in which the harness is maintained therein.

Figure 11 is a cross sectional view taken I through the seat portion ofthe harness, showing a preferred association with a cushion or seat padof the chair, and the means by which a seat pack may beassociatedtherewith. Y Figures 12 .and 13 are cross sectionalviews taken through arip cord ring and its pocket, showing the improved association of thelatter in adjustable sliding relation upon a strap or web of theharness.

Figure 14 is a detail view of the connection 13' between the back strapand associated riser web in secured relation with the back pad orcushion.

Figure 15 shows a pad which may be used with the breast strap couplingmeans to insure the comfort of the wearer.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form ofharness wherein the back straps and the adjustable loop lap straps aredifferently associated with the seat portion of the U-shaped sling thanshown in the form of harness of Figure 5.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of iilustration are shownpreferred and modified forms of the invention, the letter A maygenerally designate the improved parachute chair, which may include thechair proper B; padding C, a parachute pack D, and harnesses E or F.

The chair proper B may be of any approved type, such as conventionallyused for aircraft of any nature whatsoever. As is usual the chair may bemade as light as possible and by way of example may include a seatconstruction 23 and a back 26. The seat 23 may be reinforced by suitablemarginal tubing 21 interconnected in any approved manner with the legs33 and bracing Q 23, and it may also be connected with the back 33 whichmay be of any approved construction whatsoever. The chair may be formedto accommodate a back pack such as set forth in U. 8. Patent #l,899,668and co-pending application, 43 Serial No. 717,836, or which may beshaped to accommodate a seat pack. In the latter event the seatconstruction 25 includes a well or chamber 33 to receive the parachutepack D therein. This well may be suitably'apertured to provideventilation, etc. and the walls may be sloped to permit the readydetachment of the parachute pack when the wearer arises from the chair.

The chair frame includes suitable stationary arm rests 3i and 32, whichmay be of any approved nature, but which are preferably upholstered orotherwise constructed so as to pro- I appearance of the same. The top ofthe back 23 is provided with a suitable skirt, or harness and 65 backcushion pocket 33, which is open at the bottom, and which receives theupper portion of the harness and the upper part of the back pad orcushion therein in a releasable manner. A head rest may be provided uponthe fore part of the skirt, if desired.

Referring to the padding or upholstery of the chair 0, the same includesa back cushion or pad 35 and a seat cushion or pad 33. These cushionsmay be connected together if desired, or they may be separate. They arepadded in any approved manner and flexibly conform to the contour of theback and seat of the chair proper. A-novel feature of construction isthe provision" of side flaps '33, in the nature of pads, which aresecured either to the back or seat cushions 33 and 33, or to both ofthem, as desired. These side'pads or flaps are provided to cover thepocket openings in the arm rests 3| and 32, and are provided with partsof iift-the-dot" fasteners 43, the complementary parts of which areattached to the arms 3| and 32 along the fore and top margins thereof,surrounding the. respective pockets. These lii't-the-dot"'.fasteners areso positioned that,

when the harness is being applied to the wearer,

pack, or it may serve as a lap pack or chest pack,

in accordance with construction which is well known in the parachuteart. As is usual the parachute container is releasably held closed byfastening means which includes a rip cord 32 terminating in a rip cordhandle 43 of the nature set forth in U. S. Patent 1,758,795 andpocketedin a manner similar to that shown in said patent.

adapted to extend upwardly along the sides of the wearer. The seatportion 3| and riser portions 32 and .33 areformedofdouble thicknessesof Webs stitched together, although a single thick-' ness of webbing, ifof sufficient length, may be used. Each riser web 32 and 33 terminatesin a pair of relatively independent suspension lines. Thus the riser web32 at a point to the rear below 7 the shoulders of the wearer isprovided with the pair ofsuspension lines 34 and similarly-the riser web33 is provided with the pair of suspension lines 33. These suspensionlines 33 and 35 all terminate in D-rings 33 to which the shroud lines ofthe parachute are connected in well, known manner.

Back straps 33 and 31 are provided, which may be connected in anyapproved manner to the seat 3i of the sling. Thus,in the harness E theseback straps 33 and 31 are contiguous with the seat of the sling;themselves providing a seat por-' tion 3| which lies below and'isstitched to the seat portion 8! of the sling proper 33. The back straps33 and 31 of course extend outwardly beyond the seat portion 3| andthence extendcupwardly to the rear of the sling diagonally in convergingrelation, crossing at'a point 33, either with a slip loop connection, orpermanently stitched, as desired. These back straps 33 and 31 are eachformed of a double thickness of webbing stitched together, although asingle ply webbing may be used if found suitable. The back straps 36 and37 at their terminals are provided with metal coupling rings or loops 93and 9|, which are in the nature of adapters or slip rings through whichthe riser webs 82 and 98 are respectively slidably adjusted.

In view of the fact that the metal adapters or coupling parts 98 and 9|take a material part of the load, they are made of appropriate strength,and secured to the ends of the back straps by passing the ends of eachof the straps through the respective buckles and stitching the ends tothe portions of the back straps which they overlie, as shown at 99 inFigure 6 of the drawings.

As before mentioned the riser webs 82 and 89 at the shoulders thereofare respectively threaded through the adapters 99 and 9|. To preventunduly fre'e sliding movement of said riser webs through the adapters Ihave provided improved means to retain a desired adjustment in suchmanner that, with the required manual effort, the riser webs may slidethrough their respective adapters to automatically provide the requiredadjustment in adapting the harness to the stature of the wearer. To thatend, for each back strap, a length of webbing 94 is appropriatelysecured by stitching 93 to the upper end of the back strap at a pointbetween the adapter and the body of the wearer, that is, at the insideof the back strap. This webbing 94 is extended upwardly beyond theadapter with which it is respectively associated and has a band or loop95 stitched thereto as at 96. These loops 95 are frictionally slidablealong the riser webs 82 and 83. It is quite apparent that when slidingmovement takes place between the adapter and the riser web which extendstherethrough, the band 95 will have to he slid along the same riser web.Due to close fitting of the bands or loops 95 a frictionally retardmovement of the riser webs occurs. This opposition offers the necessaryresistance to inadvertent free sliding movement between the upper endsof the back straps and the riser webs. It is also to be noted that thewebs 94 will protect the wearer from any pinching or uncomfortablepressure of the adapters against his or her body.

As to the application of the harness, as thus far described, the wearersits in the harness, as in a swing, with the back straps crossingbetween the shoulders and the adapters 99 and 9| lying to the rear justbelow the shoulders of the wearer, although the adapters may lie to thefront of the wearer below the shoulders if desired, with safety.

In order to prevent the wearer from falling through the sling 80,coupling means is provided to support the riserwebs 82 and 83 upon thewearer at the breast or waist. This coupling means may be of anyapproved character, as for instance, a belt. In the approved form,however,

I preferably provide short lengths of straps of webbing I99 havingcomplementary coupling parts II and I02 at the ends thereof. If desireda pad I03, shown in Figure 15, may be secured to one of these couplingparts to lie between the said coupling parts and the body of the wearer,in order to protect the body of the wearer and insure comfort uponapplication of the harness.

Improved means is provided to retain the lower portion of the harness,at the seat thereof, upon the body of the wearer, so that the seat strap8| will extend truly under the seat of the wearer in order to permit thewearer to sit in the harness, as in a swing, during a parachute descent.It includes an adjustable strap arrangement which encompasses the legsof the wearer at or below the hips, without extending between the legsof I the wearer. Thus it is particularly well adapted for women and veryefliciently and safely maintains the seat strap in position forproperuse.

Y 3 A strap H8 is connected to the seat strap 8|, as at Ill, short ofthe end of the seat strap. This strap I I9 is connected in acute angledrelation to the axis of the seat strap and is adapted to fold about theouter side of the left leg of the wearer. At its free end it is providedwith a coupling 2, which may be the ring portion of the coupling, or anyother part of any other type of coupling than that shown. Another strap4 is similarly connected at 5 at the opposite end of the seat strap 8|.-This strap 4 has an adjustable coupling 6 at its free end, which isadapted to detachably interconnect with the coupling part' 2. The strapU4 is adjustably connected to this coupling 8 so that the straps H9 and4, when connected together by said coupling devices, may be held tightabout the legs of the wearer to hold the position of the harness uponthe wearer'as aforementioned.

The coupling 2 has a rearwardly projecting tongue, indicated at H2between the over-folded parts of the strap 0, in order that the coupling"I I2, which is preferably a D-ring, will always lie in position forquick attachment to the snap fastener portion of the coupling 6.

As shown in Figure 7 of the drawings the coupling 6 includes the snapfastener portion.

Ill and the slotted coupling or eye portion 8. n

A snap securing cross bar 9 is provided, slidable across the eye openingof the portion 8 of the coupling, towards and away from the snapportion 1. The strap 4 is threaded through the opening of the eye I I8,and through an eye opening I20 of the cross bar 9 doubled over the crossbar and returned through the opening of the eye 8, doubled upon itself.The free end of the strap 4 is then threaded through a band or loop 2|to hold the same upon the body portion of the said strap. The cross bar9 straddles across the eye of the opening H8, resting upon opposite sidebars of said eye; the said cross bar being suitably reduced andshouldered at its ends at I23 so that the lower portion of the cross barfits snugly between the said bars in the eye opening and cannot readilybe displaced, although permitting free sliding thereof between oppositebar portions of the said eye. Of course, the snap hook I" isdetachablewith respect to the D-ring H2 in order to form of straps H0 and III aleg encircling loop. Merely by pulling on the free end of the strap H4restricts the loop opening, without any possibility of slackening. Thatis due to the tendency of the cross bar H9 to wedge the upper portion ofthe strap 4 against the bar portion |8 of the eye 8 when there isanytendency to expand the loop formed by the straps H0 and 2. However, bypulling upon the free the cross bar to tighten the strap and thus holdthe harness upon the body in proper .position. If desired the surface ofthe cross bar 9 may be suitably milled or roughened to offer increasedresistance to the slipping of the strap H4.

In order to insure that the seat strap 8| of the harness will always bepositioned upon the chair in proper relation to the individual sittingstitching or by any-releasable means desired. 0f'

. ness upon his or her body.

in the chair, so' that itwill pass the seat of the wearer in order thathe or she may sitin the harness as in a swing during a parachute cushion36, preferably by means of webbing or straps I30 which are suitablystitched to the body.-

of the container-of the pack and extend through suitable openings orslots in the cushion and being in turn secured to the seat strap 3i,either by course the load is not taken upon any portion of the containerwhen the parachute canopy deploys and it is only essential that thewebbing I30 hold the pack in its packed condition, upon the cushion andto the seat strap, as shown in Figure 11. In

the case of a back pack the pack may be similarly secured to the backcushion or back straps of the harness.

The back straps 86 and 81 of the harness, and also the suspension websleading intoxthe parachute pack, are disposed behind the back cushion35. In order that they may properly hold their position behind the backcushion 35, so that the latter may serve as a pad between the harnessstraps and the body of the wearer, a cross web I3! is secured at itsendsto the sides of the back pad 35. Upon the rear of the said back pad eachof the ,back straps extends beneath the web l3i, although the suspensionwebs do not extend beneath the same. The back straps may be secured inany other approved manner to the back pad, preferably detachabletherefrom. Furthermore the back cushion along the upper margin thereofis provided with elastic loops I33, through which the fiser webs 82 and83 are slidably extended. This securely locates the shoulder portions ofthe riser webs in relation to the back.

pad 35, so that there is no liability of slipping of the said riser websor shoulder portions into improper position with respect to the. chaircushion. The adapters 90 and Si lie to the rear of these elastic loopsI33, so-that nomaterial part of the .load will be placed thereon.

The rip cord handle 43, as before mentioned, is of a nature similar tothat set forth in my U. S. Patent #1358395, and the pocket I to receivethe same is of a nature similar to that described in said patent, exceptthat the said pocket is attached to a band or loop of fabric Ill whichis slidable upon the left riser web 33 of the harness. This sliding ofthe pocket upon the harness permits the adjustment of the harness towearers of varying stature and disposition of the rip cord ring orhandle in the proper posi-' tion upon the harness. Of course the pocketmay be located in other positions upon the harness than the riser web,such as upon a belt, but it is preferably adjustable in a, similarmanner.

It is quite obvious from the foregoing that the parachute harness andpack may be located inconspicuously upon the chair, yet in such mannerthat a wearer may instantly apply the har- In normal condition the seatpack is in the well or chamber 30 of the chair beneath the-cushion 36,and the back cushion or pad 35 together with the upper portion of theharness associated therewith is releasably-disposedin the pocket formedby the, skirt 33 which is hooded over the'upper endof v the chair. Thelower portions of the riser webs, together with the lower portion of theback strap extend loosely into the pockets of the arm rests 30 and3|,together with the strap ends'lll and their respective adapters,wherein they are pocketedreleasably by means of the closures"; Theseclosures of course comprise part of the paddingas before mentioned.Suitable other side pockets I53 (shown in Figure 1 of the drawings) areprovidedupon the chair, to receive the straps-H0 and Ill. Only one ofthesepockets is shown, althoughanother similar one is disposed at theopposite side of the chair. In this manner the only parts of the harneswhich can be seen in the chair in normal condition are intermediatesections of the riser webs between the lower end of the skirt 33 and theclosure flaps 33.

when the necessity for applying the harness arises theuser withdraws thestraps H0 and Ill from the pockets 5, interengages the coupling parts 2and Ill thereof and pulls tightly upon the free end of the strap Ill,"as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, to tighten the lap or legencircling 1oop-of theharness about the wearer.-

This pulls the seat portion 8! of the harness firmly beneath the wearer,and it will be main- 1 tained in that position when the wearer releasesthe free end of the strap Ill, due to clamping of the coupling bar 9.Next the operator slips his or her shoulders in turn underthe exposedriser webs 82 and 33. The adapters Stand ill, have preferably previouslybeen' adjusted to suit the aviator or passenger and the loops formed bythe riser webs and back straps will embrace the shoulders of the wearer.Preferably the har' ness is adjusted to dimensions somewhat too smallfor the intended wearer, so that in the course of putting on the harnessthe-shoulder loops formed by the back straps and riser webs willautomatically increase in size, due to sliding of the riser webs throughthe adapters 30 and 9|,

as above mentioned. In the course of passing the shoulders through thelift webs of the bar ness the rear pad 35 will be drawn forwardly and ofcourse the portion of the pad 35 and the harness under the skirt 33 willbe drawn therefrom. Also the lower portions of the riser webs-will beurged sufliciently forward to open the flaps 38 and draw the breaststraps I" therefrom. The couplings Ill and I02 are then interconnectedin the step of applying the harness illustrated I in Figure 3.

The harness is now secured upon the wearer and when the necessity arisesthe wearer may leave the chair, and of course since neither the seat andback pads of the harness, or pack is attached to any of the chairproper, the wearer may4readily arise to the position shown in 'FigureAfter jumping from the aircraft the rip cord is pulled in accordancewith conventional practice. When the parachute canopy becomes deployedthe suspension webs 84 and 85 will of course be pulled taut and thiswill draw the adapters 30 and 3| upwardly to tighten the harness uponthe wearer in a manner which has been above described, and which will beapparent from Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings. The main load of coursewill be taken upon the seat strap 8| of the sling either distributedthrough the back straps or through, the riser webs, or both, accordingto the position of the adapters 90 and 9| upon the wearer.

It is of importance that the straps H0 and Ill leave the seat strap atthe proper angle. Such angle is preferably acute to the axis of the lapstrap extended, so that a straight wrapping around the legs is obtained.This is found to materially increase the efliciency of support afforded,as well as the comfort of the harness upon the wearer, and the seatstrap will be efiiciently maintained under the seat of the wearerwithout the necessity of passing the leg straps between the legs of thewearer, as is the case with the standard parachute harness.

In the form of harness F illustrated in Figure 16 many of the featuresof the above described harness are embodied, and wherever practicalsimilar reference characters have been applied to both harnesses E andF. However, in the form of harness F the back straps 86' and 81",instead of forming a loop stitched beneath and along the seat strap i I,extend transversely to..the axis of the seat strap Ii, preferably beingpositioned between and stitched to the web portions of the seat strap8|, at lill (see Figure 16) This positions the portions of the backstraps 86' and '1 (adjacent the seat strap 8|) closer together, so thatthere is less liability of the wearer falling rearwardly through theharness.

In the form of harness F the lap strap is formed of a continuous piecewhich is extended parallel beneath the strap I l at Iii and stitchedthereto. The straps I and Ill' are similar to the straps Ill and I ll ofthe form of invention E, except that they extend parallel with the seatstrap II and beyond the ends thereof. This form of invention issuggested as being practical, and showing that it is possible to modifythe harness considerably and yet maintain the essential features of theharness, that is, the automatic tightening feature when the load isvtaken from the harness, and the improved means for securing the lowerportion of the harness about the lower body of the wearer in order tomaintain the seat strap in proper position beneath the seat of thewearer.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be madeto the forms of invention herein shown and described, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. An aviator's chair including a seat and back rests, adapted toreceive parachute apparatus including a parachute seat pack and harnessconnected with the parachute pack, seat and back pads releasably mountedon theseat and back rests of the chair having the harness attachedthereto and held in position thereby, a top pocket carried by the backrest of the chair for releasably securing the upper portion oftheharness and the upper-portion of the back pad thereimandsidepocketsatoppoute sides oftlie seat rest of the chair for releasably securingloose portions of the lower part of the harness therein.

2. In parachute apparatus the combination of an aviators chair includinga seat rest and a back rest, said seat rest having a chamber thereinopening upwardly, a parachute pack releasably socketed in said chamberbelow the top level of said seat rest, a seat' pad marginally extendingbeyond the side edges of the pack when it is disposed in the chamber ofthe seat rest and at said margins resting on the top surface of saidseat rest to secrete the pack in the chamber, and parachute harnessoperatively connected with said seat pack.

3. As an article of manufacture a chair adapted for use with parachuteapparatus comprising a seat rest, a back rest, rigid side arms havingrelatively facing definitely recessed pockets for receiving the looseportions of a parachute harness, the seat rest being socketed to receivea. parachute pack therein, and pocketing means at the top of the backrest to receive other details of the parachute harness.

4. As an article of manufacture an aircraft chair for use with parachuteapparatus comprising a seat rest, a back rest, rigid side arms havingdefinitely recessed pockets therein in relative facing relation toreceive details of the parachute apparatus, means to releasably closesaid pockets, and a pocket at the top of the back rest openingdownwardly to releasably receive other details of the parachuteapparatus.

5. In a parachute chair for receiving parachute packs and harness whichincludes side riser and suspension straps and leg straps the combinationof a seat rest, a back rest, side pocketing means above the seat restfor releasably receiving the lower portions of the riser and suspensionstraps of the harness, top pocketing means on the back rest forreleasably receiving other portions of the parachute apparatus, andother side pocketing means below the level of the seat rest andforwardly of the first mentioned pocketing means to releasably receivethe leg straps.

6. In a parachute chair for releasably receiving parachute harnesshaving a U-shaped sling seat and other body attaching straps, thecombination of a chair seat, a chair back, arm rests having definitelyrecessed pockets facing the chair seat, a seat pad, a back pad, the seatpad having the sling seat of the harness secured in position thereon fordisposition beneath the seat of a person sitting in the chair, and sidepads associated in a. complementary relation with the other pads, andhaving means to releasably secure the same as closures over the pocketsof the arms of said chair, said other body attaching straps beingreleasably secreted in said side pockets.

LESLIE L. IRVIN.

